Disgruntled Former Meta Content Moderators Seek $1.6 Billion in Compensation in Kenyan Lawsuit
In a significant ruling, the Court of Appeal in Kenya has upheld a decision that allows 187 ex-Sama Facebook moderators to proceed with their lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The lawsuit, seeking $1.6 billion in compensation, alleges unfair dismissal by Meta towards the moderators.
The case stems from 2023, when Meta ended its content moderation services with Majorel, a global Business Process Outsourcing company. As a result, over 200 employees were laid off. Sama, another global BPO company, took over the moderation duties but terminated the moderators after they attempted to form a union.
The moderators argued that their monthly salary of approximately KES 60,000 was insufficient compensation for the distressing material they were tasked with moderating. They also claimed that their dismissal was unfair, a claim that has not been resolved and will continue in the trial court if a settlement is not reached.
Facebook had previously claimed it couldn't be sued in Kenya as it is a foreign company. However, this claim has been overruled by the Court of Appeal, holding Meta accountable for the treatment of these moderators in Kenya's largest economy.
Mercy Mutemi, the advocate representing the ex-Sama Facebook moderators, stated that the cases can now move forward. Sama, in response, has shifted its focus to artificial labeling.
Despite claiming not to oppose unionization, Sama terminated the moderators. The lawfulness of the redundancy will be determined during the hearing.
Currently, there are no relevant search results providing information about companies involved in replacing content moderators in Kenya or the current status of dispute resolution on this matter. The case was stalled in negotiations last October.
This ruling sets a precedent for tech companies operating in Kenya, emphasising the importance of fair treatment and labour rights for local employees. The trial court will now determine whether Meta and Sama will be held liable for the dismissal of the Facebook moderators.
